Poultry carcass-treating apparatus

ABSTRACT

A dressed raw poultry carcass, with its front portion engaging an abutment, is pressed from the rear to clamp the carcass against the abutment, and side rails carry arms rearwardly to engage the knees of the bird, thus positioning the carcass firmly for fluid injection or other treatment.

This application is a division of copending application Ser. No. 382,409filed July 25, 1973 now U.S. Pat. No. 3,946,117 issued Mar. 23, 1976,which in turn is a division of application Ser. No. 106,492, filed Jan.14, 1971, now U.S. Pat. No. 3,754,302 issued Aug. 28, 1973.

BACKGROUND AND SUMMARY

In the processing of poultry carcasses following cleaning, eviscerating,etc., the foot portion is cut away and the ends of the legs at theposterior of the carcass are wire-trussed together to provide hockclamps above the end of the backbone structure. After the usualchilling, the thigh portion over the femur bone and the leg portion overthe tibiotarsus bone become relatively rigid and the knee jointtherebetween projects forwardly. The wing portions extend outwardly andslightly downwardly.

Attempts to treat or streamline process such irregularly-shaped bodiesby machine and process steps have long presented a problem. Not only arethe carcasses difficult to handle by reason of the irregular shapes andprojections, but also during the chilling and storing operations thewing and leg portions become further misshapen. Added to this is thefact that the carcasses come in varying sizes, both in length and heightand other body conformations, and it is important that in an injectionprocess employing hollow needles, etc. such implements must miss thebone structure and accurately penetrate the muscle portion.

A very real problem is to find a way for positioning the bird carcassfor the treatment so that it is firmly and accurately held irrespectiveof size or conformation, while at the same time mechanically positioningthe needles or other treating elements with respect to a key point ofthe carcass portion engaged in the positioning step so that the needlesmiss the bone structure and find proper location in the muscle meat.

We have discovered that a removable elongated abutment or stop can beprovided for engaging an anterior portion of the dressed carcass forclamping and centering the carcass for the treating operation when thecarcass is pushed or pressed against the abutment. Further, we havediscovered that side slide rails can be provided with cam sockets forgripping the knees of the bird to further fix it in position fortreatment. By equipping the rails with needles, etc. and supporting themfor tilting and play, the hunting action of the rail cam sockets againstthe rigid knees of the carcass aligns the needles so that they miss thebone and find the knee and thigh muscle meat. Moving the abutment awaypermits ejection of the processed bird and restores the apparatus forreceiving another carcass.

In the process, a socket pusher engages not only the backbone and hockportion of the carcass but also the clamped leg-ends, and thus asubstantial force can be applied through the bone structure to clamp thecarcass against the centering abutment or post.

Forward of the breast bone (sternum) of the bird is a V-shaped recessand when this receives the depending generally-vertical locator post andthe carcass is pressed forwardly against it from the rear, there is anaccurate alignment of the bird carcass so that the injection needleswill miss the keel bone and be properly located in the breast musclemeat. Thus, irrespective of the bird's length, height, or size, theabove positioning step rapidly and accurately places the bird in properposition with respect to the needles or other treating parts.

DRAWINGS

In the accompanying drawings,

FIG. 1 is a side view in elevation of a typical dressed poultry carcassheld between clamping elements;

FIG. 2, a front view in elevation of apparatus embodying our inventionand useful in carrying out our treating process;

FIG. 3, a side view of the apparatus shown in FIG. 2;

FIG. 4, a top plan view of track means for the conveying of the carcassthrough the treating apparatus;

FIG. 5, a side view of the apparatus shown in FIG. 4;

FIG. 6, a broken detail side view in elevation of the side railstructure for engaging a knee joint of the carcass and theneedle-applying mechanism carried by the side rail;

FIG. 7, a broken detail view of the needle support structure and limitswitch carried thereby;

FIG. 8, a view in side elevation of support frame means for the breastneedle-applying mechanism and means for actuating the hollow needles;

FIG. 9, a chart showing a preferred sequence in the operation of thetimer control mechanism;

FIG. 9A is a detailed diagram of the circuit of the unit IT in FIG. 9;

FIG. 9B is a detailed diagram of the circuit of the Unit 2T in FIG. 9;

FIG. 9C is a detailed diagram of the circuit of the unit 3T of FIG. 9;

FIG. 10, a perspective view of the apparatus prior to the placing of thecarcass on the conveyor track;

FIG. 11, a view similar to FIG. 10 but showing the carcass placed inposition against the centering post;

FIG. 12, a view similar to FIG. 11 but showing the pusher elementpressing the carcass against the centering post;

FIG. 13, a view similar to FIG. 12 but showing the side rails advancedto bring the cam sockets against the knees of the carcass;

FIG. 14, a view similar to FIG. 13 but showing the knee needles moveddown into injection position;

FIG. 15, a view similar to FIG. 14 showing the breast needles moveddownwardly into injection position, thus with all needles in injectionposition;

FIG. 16, a view similar to FIG. 15 but showing the breast needlesraised;

FIG. 17, a view similar to FIG. 16 but showing the thigh needles raised;

FIG. 18, a view similar to FIG. 17 but showing the side rails retracted;

FIG. 19, a view similar to FIG. 18 but showing the locator postretracted;

FIG. 20, a view similar to FIG. 19 showing the pusher element engagingthe carcass for removing the same;

FIG. 21, a view similar to FIG. 20 but showing the carcass ejected bythe pusher element from the injection area and showing also a spraynozzle mounted for spraying the rails after the removal of the carcass;

FIG. 22, a broken detail view of apparatus for supporting the locatorpost in position for engaging the forward portion of the carcass;

FIG. 23, a view similar to FIG. 22 but showing the post being retracted;

FIG. 24, a view of the structure shown in FIG. 22 taken as seen fromline 24--24 of FIG. 22;

FIG. 25, a top plan view of the structure shown in FIG. 23;

FIG. 26, a schematic top plan view illustrating the action of the camsocket member in finding and engaging the knee of the turkey while theturkey is held between the centering post and pusher;

FIG. 27, a perspective view of the top portion of the cam socketadvancing mechanism;

FIG. 28, a broken sectional detail view of the spring-supported camsocket carrying support;

FIG. 29, a perspective view of the cam socket and rail advancingmechanism;

FIG. 30, a schematic view showing the application of air pressure to thevarious operating cylinders; and

FIG. 31, a schematic flow sheet of the fluid conduits leading from asource to the injection needles.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION IN GENERAL

The apparatus and process are effective for anchoring a carcass in afirm position for the injection of fluid into the carcass or for othertreating operations, while at the same time guiding or maintaining thetreating needles or other implements so that they are effective ininjecting fluid into the carcass meat without hitting the bonestructure.

There are many treating processes which may be employed and whichrequire for streamline processing a film and centered positioning. Forexample, in the application through hollow needles, fluids includinggases and liquids may be introduced. Such fluids may also be injected bypressure guns equipped with nozzles through which the material isinjected into the carcass. The injected material may include seasoningmaterial, such as lemon, onion, pepper, butter, smoke, and other flavorsand flavor enhancers, such as sodium chloride, monosodium glutanate,disodium inosinate, disodium guanylate, etc. Solids, as well as liquidsand gases, may be injected. Examples of solids are crystalline vitamins,iron-containing substances, calcium phosphate compounds, etc. Flavoredwater solutions and edible fat may also be injected. The edible fat mayinclude edible oils and common edible animal fats, emulsions or mixturesthereof, such as, for example, butter, butter oil, corn oil, lard,cottonseed oil, corn oil margarine, and other well-known vegetable andanimal fats and oils and margarines. The edible fat may be heated to atemperature at which it is fluid or plastic so that it may be injectedby the applicator or needles into the meat body.

As stated above, an important achievement is the positioning of thehighly-irregular bird carcass so that it is held for mechanicaltreatment such as has been above described, and also for various othertreatments, such as slicing, quarter- and half-sectioning, etc.

FIG. 1 shows a typical carcass indicated by the numeral 10, the carcassresting upon its back and having its keel portion 11 engaged by acentering post 12. The wing portions 13 extend downwardly on each side.The ends of the legs 14 are secured by a wire clamp 14a which brings thelegs together with their rear surfaces extending close to the posteriorend of the carcass. A pusher member 15 engages the hock portion andbackbone of the carcass and also the leg-ends to press the carcassforwardly against the locator post 12. The knee portion 16 of each legis engaged by a cam socket 17 which receives and adjusts itself to theknee so that the leg bone is thus rigidly held between the pusher member15 and the cam socket 17. There is thus a four-point anchoring of thecarcass by elements which still leave the meat portion of the carcassexposed for treatment with hollow needles or other implements.

The general layout of the apparatus is shown in FIGS. 2 and 3, and forthe purpose of illustration the apparatus and process are described inconnection with a turkey carcass, and the treating apparatus by way ofexample is set out as hollow needle injection apparatus for theinjection of fluids.

A turkey carcass is placed upon support rods 18 which form a track orcradle in the position shown in FIG. 2, with the forward portion incontact with the centering post or keel bone locator post 12. The pusherelement 15 has laterally-extending sides 15a and upwardly- anddownwardly-flaring sides 15b for engaging the posterior end of thecarcass including the backbone and the ends of the trussed legs 14. Ineffect, the pusher element forms a pocket which will engage the leg andhock portions of the carcass for pressing the same forwardly intoclamped position against the post 12. Next, the cam socket 17 will bepressed forwardly into engagement with the knee portion 16 of thecarcass. The socket structure carries a bracket 19 in which is mounted apressure cylinder 20 actuating a manifold 21 carrying thigh-injectionhollow needles 22. The cam socket 17 is carried by side rails 23 carriedwithin a casing 24 pivotally mounted at 25 upon the casing member 26a,thus permitting a swinging action of the cam socket to hunt and engagethe knee, as shown in FIG. 1, for thus centering the socket with respectto the knee and at the same time positioning the thigh needles 22 sothat they will miss the leg bone and pierce the leg and thigh muscles.

The breast muscle needles 27 are mounted upon manifold 28 carried withincasing 29, the casing being supported upon an angle arm 30 forming apart of the main casing frame 26.

If desired, electric eye elements (not shown) may be provided on theframe arch so that the entire machine becomes inoperative until acarcass 10 is placed in position, as shown in FIG. 3, so as to break thelight beam.

The apparatus is preferably provided with a drain pan 26c, as indicatedbest in FIG. 3.

The foregoing describes the general structure and operation of theprocess and apparatus, and detailed structure will now be set out.

GUIDE TRACKS

As shown best in FIGS. 4 and 5, we provide the spaced support rods 18 asguide supports adapted to receive the back and back sides of the turkeycarcass, and mounted for movement between the rods 18 is the pusherelement 15 which has a depending portion 31 secured to the piston rod ofthe hydraulic element 32. In FIGS. 4 and 5, the pusher element is shownin advanced position.

On each side of the pusher element 15 are vertical guide rods 34, andbetween the guide rods 34 is a slide shaft 35 for slidably supportingthe leg hock pusher element 15. Extending forwardly of the rods 18 arethe upwardly- and forwardly-inclined guide rods 36 which haverearwardly-extending and downwardly-inclined portions 37 for laterassisting in the ejecting of the injected carcass.

THIGH-INJECTING MECHANISM

A detail showing is set out in FIGS. 6 and 7 of the thigh-injectingmechanism which includes the cam socket 17 and the support bracket 19 onwhich is mounted the needle manifold 21 and communicating needles 22.The needles are depressed by a hydraulic cylinder element 20 and therods 20a and 20b serve as guide rods. The thigh locator or cam 17 issupported by rails 23 mounted within a casing 24 carried by framebracket 38 on the main frame 26, and a pair of hydraulic cylinders 39 iseffective for moving the plate 40 carrying the rails 23 forwardly. 41designates a cylinder bracket support rod, and 42 designates tubularguides in the casing 24 for the movement of the rails 23 carrying thelocator plate or cam forwardly and rearwardly.

As shown best in FIGS. 29 and 27, the air cylinders 39 face in oppositedirections and are activated in tandem to provide a long stroke of thecam socket 17 on rails 23 sliding in the tubular guides 42. Springs 43bias the casings 24 upon vertical pivot 25 to urge the cam sockets 17inwardly and to bring the pin stop 44 against shoulder 45 on bracket 38.

As shown more clearly in FIG. 7, 47 designates a switch bracket onsupport 48 and supporting the thigh manifold cylinder 20 on and 20bthigh manifold guide rods 20a. Mounted upon the bracket is a switch 49for the thigh manifold switch injection actuator and the same iscontrolled by a spring urged trigger 50 which limits the depth ofpenetration of the needles.

The side slide rails supporting the cam sockets elements 17 are inclinedinwardly and rearwardly on both sides so that when moved rearwardly theymove inwardly into engagement with the bird's knees, while when they areretracted they move forwardly and outwardly to free the space ahead ofthe bird so that it can be ejected by the pusher 15.

FIG. 6 indicates a spray nozzle 51 which preferably is positioned forspraying the cradle and guide rods on which the carcass moves after thecarcass has been ejected so as to clean the tracks for the next carcass.

BREAST-INJECTION MECHANISM

In FIG. 8, a detail showing of the breast-injection mechanism is setout. Above the casing 29 is a housing 52 in which is mounted a manifoldcylinder 53 for pressing downwardly the manifold 28 carrying the hollowneedles 27. Above the manifold is an inlet tube 54 leading from apressure source of fluid, such as, for example, corn oil margarine. 55indicates manifold adjustment rod screws, and 56 indicates one of twomanifold adjustment rods. At the top of the housing 52 is an air inletand exhaust 57 leading to the air pressure operated cylinder 53.

Extending below the manifold 28 is a an element 58 which on contact withthe surface of the carcass actuates a switch for stopping furtherdescent of the manifold and this serves as a depth penetration limit.The switch actuator rod extends upwardly to the switch 59 to stopdownward movement of the manifold after the element 58 engages thecarcass.

WIRING LAYOUT

FIG. 9 sets out a wiring layout which utilizes switches and actuators invarious portions of the apparatus for accomplishing sequentialoperations as described fully in FIG. 9 for a preferred sequence. Itwill be understood that this sequence may be varied as desired, but thesequence illustrated is one which has been found satisfactory. Thesymbols used in the wiring layout in FIG. 9 are standard symbols andelectrical abbreviations known as J.I.C. standard (Joint IndustrialCouncil). In addition to such symbols, the operation is described indetail in FIG. 9. On the righthand column of the figure, the individualelements shown in the lefthand column are shown in enlarged form forclarity.

SEQUENCE OF OPERATION FOR INJECTION MACHINE

In FIGS. 10 to 21 are sequential operations similar to the operationsdescribed in FIG. 9. In FIG. 10, the cradle rods 18 are shown empty, andin FIG. 11 a turkey carcass 10 has been placed in position against thelocator post 12. While the post or abutment 12 may be of any suitabletype of structure for engaging the anterior part of the bird, we havediscovered that the anatomy of the bird can be utilized very effectivelyin centering the carcass, irrespective of its size or configuration, sothat upon the clamping of the bird against the post the injectionneedles can be operated without fear of their penetrating any of thebone structure.

The anatomy of the bird which is utilized is the notch at the forwardend of the sternum or breast bone. We have discovered that this notch atthe forward end of the bird can be effectively used as a centering meansso that when the pusher element is advanced and the notch engages thedepending vertical locator post, the bird, irrespective of its size andconfiguration, will be held accurately with respect to the injectionneedles. Thus, the notch and centering post serve as a key for guidingthe needles so that they invariably miss the keel and other bonestructure while still coming close to the keel to provide the desiredinjection.

FIG. 12 shows the pusher element advanced to complete the centeringoperation. FIG. 13 shows the knee locator rails advanced to bring thecam socket or thigh locator plate 17 into engagement with the knees 16of the turkey carcass 10.

FIG. 14 shows the depression of the thigh needles 22, and FIG. 15 showsthe depression of the breast needles 27.

The withdrawal of the needles is shown in FIGS. 16 and 17, the breastneedles 27 being withdrawn in FIG. 16 and the thigh needles 22 beingwithdrawn in FIG. 17.

FIG. 18 shows the retraction of the thigh locator plate mechanism 17,the withdrawal being at an angle outwardly and rearwardly so as to openthe area in front of the bird to permit its ejection. At this point,however, the locator post 12 still retains the carcass 10. FIG. 19 showsthe locator post 12 raised, and the pusher element 15 is now free forejecting the bird forwardly and down the incline discharge guide 37, thedischarge being shown in FIGS. 20 and 21. After the discharge, the spraynozzle 51 delivers wash water for cleaning the track rods.

OPERATION OF LOCATOR POST

The locator post structure in operation is shown best in FIGS. 22 and25. The post 12 has a flared portion 12a which causes it to engage thesupport 12b and to hold it rigid against the pressure exerted by thepusher element through the medium of the carcass. However, the postmember swings upwardly and freely when the postactuating mechanism isretracted. The post is carried by pivot 60 upon the bracket member 61which is fixed to a pivot rod 62 guided within an arcuate slot 63 in theslide frame members 64. A piston pin 65 pivotally engages the member 61and extends within the hydraulic cylinder 66 which in turn is pivotedupon the frame 30 at 67. FIG. 22 and FIG. 24 show the locating post inlowered position for engaging the carcass when it is pushed forward,while FIG. 23 and FIG. 25 show the post in elevated and inoperativeposition.

The operation of the cam socket 17 is shown graphically in FIG. 26, thecam socket 17 swinging upon pivots 25 into engagement with the knees 16of the turkey 10 after the turkey has been secured by moving the presser15 against the rear of the turkey to move the V recess at the front ofthe turkey into engagement with the post 12.

We prefer, however, to cause the engagement of the cam with the knee tobe relatively gentle in the initial contact so that the cam can causethe socket to swing into snug contact with the knee, at which time thefull force of the cylinders will be brought to bear in urging the camsocket against the knee. To provide a yielding contact, the rail 23, asshown best in FIG. 28, is slidably mounted within a rail member 23a andis urged forwardly by spring 60a. The member 23 is preferably slotted at63a to receive a pin 62 limiting the inward movement of member 23. Ifdesired, the slide 23 may be provided with a second spring 63. Thus, theengagement of the cam socket with the knee is initially a gentleengagement allowing the cam socket to adjust itself to the knee before afirm engagement is made.

While a single hydraulic cylinder may be employed, we have shown twocylinders 39 having their piston rods 39a and 39b extending in oppositedirections, and the cylinders are operated in sequence to produce thedesired long stroke. The casing 24 are each provided with verticalsleeves 24a welded thereto and vertical pivots extend through thesupporting brackets 26a so as to mount the casing 24 pivotally upon theframe members 26a. Thus, the entire support mechanism for the cam socket17 may swing along a relatively vertical pivot to allow the cam socketto hunt and find the knee and thus to locate the needle-injectingneedles 22 with respect to the leg of the turkey. The inwardly-extendingcam portion 17a of the cam socket 17, which is normally urged inwardlyby springs 43, first engages the knee and guides the support mechanisminto firm contact with the knee, and in this operation the relativelystraight portion 17b of the cam socket extends between the knee and theside of the turkey breast, as shown best in FIG. 27. With the socketportion 17b extending snugly between the knee and the breast of theturkey, as shown best in FIG. 27, the needle bracket is held firmly in aposition in which the needles must miss the leg bone and pass throughthe leg muscle and thigh muscle laterally of the bone.

Not only is the cam socket member 17 pivotally mounted for lateralmovement but also, as shown best in FIGS. 6 and 29, the cam socket iselongated so that it can fit turkeys or other poultry of widely-varyingsizes. Thus, both the cam socket 17 and the centering post 12 arevertically elongated to adapt the apparatus to poultry carcasses ofdifferent sizes.

FLOW SHEETS

In FIG. 30, there is set out a diagram of the flow of air to oppositeends of cylinders 66, 32, 39, 20 and 53, together with valve means forcontrolling the action of the cylinder pistons.

In FIG. 31, there is set out a source of fluid, which may be edible fator any of the various fluids heretofore described, through flow lines tothe manifolds 28 and 21.

ILLUSTRATIVE OPERATION

The operation of the apparatus can be carried out in a number of ways,with the operation proceeding in different sequences at the option ofthe operator. One optional procedure may be set out as follows and inconjunction with the showing in FIG. 9:

1. The operator manually slides or places the bird into position on thesupport rods 18 with the forward end of the breast bone pushed againstthe breast bone locator post 12, the notch receiving the post.

2. The operator depresses two start button switches 1PB1 and 1PB2, asindicated on FIG. 3, to start the cycle.

3. These switches energize and set up delay timer 1TR and thetwo-position double solenoid valve 1SOL which actuates the bird clampcylinder 32 and advances the pusher 15 until the bird is clampedsecurely against the locator post 12.

4. When the pusher 15 moves forward approximately two inches, the devicewill actuate the one-way roller switch 2LS.

5. Limit switch 2LS momentarily energizes the two-position doublesolenoid valve 2SOL which extends the two sets of thigh manifoldtransfer cylinder rods or side rails 23 and advances the thigh manifolds19 until the manifolds are properly positioned over the bird legs andthighs.

6. Near the end of the thigh manifold transfer or side rail stroke, thetwo transfer mechanisms will actuate two limit switches 3LS and 4LSwhich are wired in series.

7. The two limit switches 3LS and 4LS, through the closed contacts ofdelay timer 1TR, will energize the maintained contacts of the threebreast and thigh manifold three-position double solenoid valves -- 3SOL,4SOL and 5SOL -- which extends the cylinder rods and starts themanifolds down to the bird injection position.

8. When the manifolds reach the injection position individually, sensingrods 58 and 50, mounted in the breast manifold and in the two thighmanifolds, are depressed by contact with the keel bone and the thighjoints which in turn actuate the three limit switches 5LS, 6LS and 7LSmounted on the three manifolds.

9. Individual and separate actuation of the switches causes twofunctions to happen simultaneously at each manifold:

a. The switches 5LS, 6LS and 7LS, which are wired in series withsolenoid valves 3SOL, 4SOLand 5SOL, will open power circuits fromswitches 3LS and 4LS to the solenoid valves 3SOL, 4SOL and 5SOL causingthe valves to return to center neutral position which in turn stops thedown travel of the manifolds.

b. The switches will also close secondary circuits to start injectioncycle timers 1T and 2T which in turn energize the pressure regulatorvalve solenoids 6SOL and 8SOL and thereby releases the pressurizedbasting oil to the injection manifolds and needles.

10. When timers 1T and 2T time out, the circuits are opened to solenoidvalves 6SOL and 8SOL. The valves close and the flow of basting oil tothe manifolds and needles is stopped.

11. Timers 1T and 2T also energize and set up "ON" delay timers 2TR and3TR.

12. When timers 2TR and 3TR time out, the timers will energize and setup "OFF" delay timers 4TR and 5TR.

13. When timers 4TR and 5TR set up, the timers will close contacts andenergize solenoid valves 9SOL, 10SOL and 11SOL which in turn retractsthe cylinder rods to the thigh and breast manifolds and return themanifolds to the up position.

14. Timer 5TR will also energize and set up "ON" delay timer 7TR.

15. When timer 7TR times out, the timer will close contacts and energizesolenoid valve 12SOL which in turn retracts the side rails (thighmanifold transfer cylinder rods) 23 and returns the thigh manifoldmechanisms 21 to the start position.

16. As the thigh manifolds 21 near the retracted start position, thetransfer mechanisms will actuate two limit switches 9LS and 10LS wiredin series, the first switch 10LS being a maintained contact switch andthe second switch 9LS being a momentary pulse type.

17. The momentary pulse from switches 9LS and 10LS energizes solenoidvalves 13SOL which in turn retracts the breast bone locator post 12.

18. As the locator post 12 retracts up and back, the maintained pressureapplied by the clamp cylinder 32 on pusher 15 will move the bird forwardto the bird discharge chute 37.

19. At the bird discharge position, the clamp cylinder mechanism 32 willactuate switch 11LS.

20. The pulse from switch 11LS will cause two functions to happensimultaneously:

a. The pulse energizes solenoid valve 14SOL which extends the clampcylinder rod and returns the bird clamp rod to the start position.

b. The pulse also energizes solenoid valve 15SOL which extends cylinderrod 32 and returns the locator post 12 to the down start position.

21. As the bird slides down the ejection chute 37, it trips switch 12LS.

22. Switch 12LS starts timer T3 which in turn energizes and sets up "ON"delay timer 6TR.

23. When timer 6TR times out, the timer contacts close to energizesolenoid valve 16SOL, releasing hot water to spray nozzles 51. At thestart of the shift, the operator depresses "ON" master power switch 2PB(push button-momentary contact type switch). The operator will maintainpressure on the two cycle start switches until a buzzer 1ABU soundssignalling the start of the basting oil injection. If the operatorreleases either one or both of the switches before the buzzer sounds,the manifold down stroke cycle will be interrupted and the manifoldswill come to an immediate stop.

24. When timer T3 times out, the circuit to the water solenoid valve16SOL is opened, stopping flow of water to the wash down nozzles 51.This completes the cycle.

While in the foregoing specification we have set out specific examplesof the process and apparatus in considerable detail, it will beunderstood that such details may be varied widely by those skilled inthe art without departing from the spirit of our invention.

We claim:
 1. Apparatus for treating poultry carcass having a centralnotch in the forward portion thereof comprising a frame, a stop member,means for mounting and moving said stop member to a position in which itis fixed and rigid with respect to said frame, means for pressing saidcarcass at the rear thereof and for moving the carcass forwardly of saidframe to bring said stop member into engagement with said central notchwhereby said carcass is held in clamped engagement between said stopmember and said pressing means.
 2. Apparatus as set forth in claim 1including a support within said frame for receiving said carcassthereon, said pressing means being effective for moving said carcass onits back along said support into said engagement.
 3. Apparatus as setforth in claim 2 in which said support comprises spaced, elongated rodsadapted to receive the back portion of a poultry carcass.
 4. Apparatusas set forth in claim 1 in which said carcass has leg ends and saidpressure means engages and presses against said leg ends and the rearbody portion of said carcass.
 5. Apparatus as set forth in claim 1 inwhich said carcass has knees and leg ends and wherein said pressuremeans engages the leg ends to press said leg ends forwardly, and a meansengaging the knees of said carcass for pressing said knees rearwardlywhereby a leg of said carcass is clamped between said first mentionedpressure means and said knee pressing means.
 6. Apparatus as set forthin claim 5 in which said knee pressing means includes a socket memberfor engaging a knee of said carcass and wherein said socket member islaterally movable toward and away from the body of the carcass to alignit with the knees of the carcass.
 7. Apparatus as set forth in claim 2in which said mounting means is effective also for retracting said stopmember to a raised position in which it is out of engagement with thecarcass on said support.
 8. Apparatus as set forth in claim 7 in whichsaid mounting and retracting means includes a frame member attached tosaid frame, a bracket member having its one end attached to said stopmember and its other end pivotly connected to said frame member, and afluid cylinder and piston device pivotly connected at one end with saidbracket member at a point intermediate of its ends, said device beingpivotly connected at its other end to said frame member.
 9. Apparatus asset forth in claim 1 including means for treating said carcass while itis clamped between said stop member and said pressing means. 10.Apparatus as set forth in claim 9 in which said treating means includeshollow needles mounted for injection into said carcass, said needlesbeing mounted at points which are at a predetermined distance from saidstop member.
 11. Apparatus as set forth in claim 9 in which saidtreating means includes hollow needles for injecting fluid into saidcarcass and means for controlling the depth of penetration into saidcarcass, said depth controlling means including a contact finger andcontrol means actuated by said finger upon its contact with said carcassfor stopping penetration of said needles into the carcass.
 12. Apparatusas set forth in claim 9 in which said finger is slideably mounted andincluding spring means for urging said finger into an extended position.13. In apparatus for treating a poultry carcass a track for receivingthe back of the carcass, a retractable stop member blocking movement ofa carcass along said track, means for moving the carcass forwardly toclamp the carcass against said stop member, means for treating saidcarcass while it is against said stop member, means for retracting saidstop member into a nonblocking position and control means forautomatically operating said moving means, said treating means and saidretracting means one after another in this sequence.
 14. Poultry carcassinjection apparatus comprising a support track for a dressed poultrycarcass having rearwardly extending leg ends and having forwardlyextending knees, a stop member in blocking position in the track, meansfor pressing the carcass against said stop member, means for pressingsaid knees in a rearward direction, means for pressing hollow needlesinto said carcass while said carcass is clamped against said stopmember, means for discharging fluid through said needles into saidcarcass, means for retracting said stop member to a nonblocking positionand control means for automatically actuating each of said means oneafter another in the sequence stated.
 15. Apparatus as set forth inclaim 14 further comprising a frame, a support for a poultry carcasswithin said frame, slide rails pivotly and slideably mounted in saidframe and movable rearwardly toward said knees, cam members carried bysaid rails for engaging said knees, and hollow injection needles carriedby said rails.
 16. Apparatus as set forth in claim 15 in which saidcarcass is supported upon said track and said rails are slideablerearwardly and inwardly toward said track and forwardly and outwardlyaway from said track.
 17. Apparatus as set forth in claim 16 in whichsaid rails are spring mounted and are yieldable in a longitudinaldirection.
 18. Apparatus as set forth in claim 17 including spring meansfor urging said rails in an inward direction.
 19. Apparatus as set forthin claim 18 which includes stop means for limiting the inward movementof the rails.
 20. Apparatus as set forth in claim 19 in which said cammembers are elongated in a general vertical direction.
 21. Apparatus asset forth in claim 20 in which said cam member has a relatively straightouter face and an inclined inner face.